Chapter 9
A Prophet's Misdirection
Sparks fell to the ground as steel clashed against steel as a pair of Redguards got to know one another through their weapons in the heat of combat. Every swing of an outsized Dawnguard war hammer would send the one known as Damos sprawling backward as he stumbled to a knee. The Dragonborn, having joined the faction of vampire hunters, currently wore the red variant of their normal armor, his muscular arms visible since his alternative of attire was sleeveless. He wore the light forms of their standard boots and gauntlets, and usually sticking around his neck was the triangular kaleidoscopic neckband a product of an exceptional sort of precious stone. Snorting as he rose back to his feet, the green Redguard might chuckle, taking a different stance, his Dawnguard war axes kept out before him.
"You call yourself a Redguard?!" A voice, claimed by the Dawnguard leader, Isran, confronted him as the more senior man took a counter stance, proceeding his talk. "Nords guarantee that you're some unbelievable hero of legend, why don't you reveal to me the concealed force you hold!"
Isran charged, thundering a call to war as his hammer rose then plummeted to the other. Speedily responding, the Dragonborn might shield with his axes, his arms flexing as he battled opposite the other, their weapons secured as one in a fight of force. "Let our quality figure out the result of this fight, and who's the unrivaled warrior! Not magic!"
With the comment, Damos utilized his given strength to prod once again opposite Isran. Dropping his axes in the minute, the younger man might hurry toward the other, an influential shoulder getting the Dawnguard leader in his gut. The extemporized strike appeared to daze the senior Redguard. However Isran wasn't the leader of the faction of vampire hunters only for his brisk attitude, he was a considerable rival! A snort of undertaking sounded as the old man pushed back. Right away, Damos' feet slid opposite the floor, unable to counter Isran's headway. Planting a hand right beneath the head of his weapon, the Dawnguard leader might swat the adolescent enlist off of him and colliding with a wooden container. "You are skilled when battling against a large-weapon wielding opponent! Furthermore with no defensive strategy!" He praised Damos, the latter dusting himself off.
"Urzob, an old companion of mine, was an expert of the mallet too, the two of us taught each other a great deal." Bowing his head in a hush of appreciation of his former instructor and enduring companion. Conversation did not break between them for a long while, yet the sound of feet rattling upon the stone ground and the incredible inhaling of a courier would make them drop their practice session for a minute.
"A note! From Durak!" The lower standing Dawnguard member yelled, moderating as he drew closer to Isran. Grabbing the note from the thin detachment, the Redguard might look it over before turning to Damos.
"Seems as though you have a guest, one that wouldn't ordinarily be considered one in Dayspring Canyon, or this side of the Rift at that!" With his head, the senior might motion for the dispatch to leave, turning to the Dragonborn and squeezing his shoulder as he vocalized. "I regard your direction because of you are kin, a brother of the sand! Don't take my lenience for granted!" The younger Redguard did not stir for a while, until Isran sent him in the correct course. "Follow me then!"
The two Redguards soon left the fundamental segment of the stronghold before strolling down a long passage, taking numerous rights and lefts before coming upon a staircase. Once at the top, Damos at last acknowledged they were on the overhang that Isran used to look down into the section of Fort Dawnguard they were just in. Be that as it may, they proceeded, the younger Redguard might see that the enrichment turned darker and more sinister. "This vampire showed up while the two of us trained, and looking for you! I'm guessing it's the one you found in Dimhollow Crypt. Says it's got something really important to say to you!"
Rounding the corner, the Dragonborn might rest his eyes on the pale outline of Serana, the latter very nearly eased once she saw him, admitting that her eyes clung Isran's shape simultaneously. "So let's hear what you have to say!"
"You probably weren't expecting to see me again." She scoffed at him. "I rather not be here either, but I need to talk to you. So please listen before your friend, here, loses his patience..."
"What are you doing here?"
"It's...well it's about me. And the Elder Scroll that was buried with me." Serana answered, adjusting herself so that the Redguards may see the very item she spoke of which hung on her back.
"What about you then?"
"The reason I was down there, as well as why I had the Elder Scroll. All of this comes back to my father, who you've already met. By now, I'm sure you have taken note that the man isn't nice to be around, even among our kind. He wasn't always like that, there was...a turn. He stumbled upon this obscure prophecy, and he's been lost ever since."
"Prophecy?! Of what sort?!" Damos asked, the news troubled him. Lord Harkon was one of the most chilling beings he had ever come across, yet the Redguard had only been in the vampire's presence for less than an hour.
"Vague and pointless, like all prophecies. But the thing it did speak of, that vampires no longer had to fear the sun, is what drove my father into his insanity. That is what he's after: the control of the sun! My mother and I didn't quite see eye to eye with bringing all of Tamriel to war, so we tried to stop him, that's when I was sealed away...with the Scroll."
"You took a big risk coming here!" Letting his annoyance show, the Redguard would lower his head and sigh in exhaustion at the subjects she had given him to ponder upon.
"I did. But something about you makes me think that I can trust you. I just hope I'm not wrong..."
"No...you're right! We just have to convince the others that you are on our side." The Dragonborn nodded at her, smiling in happiness.
"Well, let's move then. If I'm anything, I'm persuasive." Serana chided with him before they both turned to Isran, who had been patiently waiting as one of his allies conversed with the very thing they were sworn to kill.
"Alright, you've heard what it has to say, now give me a good reason why I shouldn't slay this blood sucking fiend right now where it stands!" Isran growled at Damos, his arms crossed in anger.
"Because we are going to need her help!"
"Why?! Because of the story about the prophecy! About some vampire trying to put the sun out?!"
"She risked her life! Why else would she come here to Fort Dawnguard?!" He challenged back, moving forward until the Redguards' faces were inches from each other. Although the Dawnguard leader could easily kill both of them if he wanted, he only chuckled.
"Who knows, maybe it's a death wish, an insane decision. I don't really care..." Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply he would continue his talk. "It can stay here, for now! But if it were ever to lay a finger on anyone here, I'll hold you responsible. Understand?!" Turning to Serana, Isran would continue dishing out orders. "Here me well enough! Don't assume you're a guest here, because you're not! Just a resource! An asset to our cause! Don't make me regret my sudden outburst of tolerance and generosity, because if you do, your friend here is going to pay!" Pointing to Damos, the elder Redguard would finish.
"Thank you for your kindness!" Serana spoke quickly in mock respect. "I'll think about it the next time I'm feeling hungry!" With a mocking smile, she would turn back to the Dragonborn, the latter sighing at her actions. "Oh! And you! If you didn't notice, I have the Elder Scroll with me, and away from my father. But unfortunately, no one in the entire province can read it."
"Just tell us who can!" He sighed.
"Moth Priests! They are the only ones that I've heard of doing such a feat. But they're all the way in Cyrodiil!" The Nord sighed, as did Damos, but soon their silence was broken by the only other person in the room.
"Some Imperial scholar arrived in Skyrim just the other day, I saw him on a stakeout of the road. Maybe that's your Moth Priest!" Isran spat.
Glancing back at him, Serana would quickly ask in return. "Do you know where he went?!"
"No, and I'm not going to waste men looking for him either! If you didn't notice, there's a war going on between us and your kind! Ask anyone who would have met a traveler: innkeepers, carriage drivers. But you're on your own!" With that, the Dawnguard leader took his leave, walking past them as he gave Damos a look of warning, finally turning the corner and moving out of sight.
"Finally!" Serana gasped. "Any idea how you're gonna find a Moth Priest?" The vampire asked him, the Redguard caressing his brown in thought.
"Look, I don't really know, what would you do in my situation?"
"Well, back before I was...you know, the College of Winterhold knew a great deal about the workings of magical and historical texts. Sounds like just the place a Moth Priest would want to go, don't you think?"
"Right! That's where I'll go first then!" The Dragonborn nodded, turning his back to her.
"Hold on, Fido!" Obviously she hadn't surrendered on calling him names, nor the fact that the Beast Blood still coursed within his veins, in spite of the fact that none of their advantages influenced him any long. "Can't let you venture this journey alone! Plus, I've been wanting to explore a bit, so I'll kill two birds with one stone."
"Perfect..." Damos trailed off, resuming his stride with Serana in tow as the two of them set out in search of the Moth Priest.
…
"Ah! The Incarnation of Vivec graces us with his presence once more!" The call of acknowledgment originated from the one regarded as Drevis Neloren, the Dunmer embracing the Redguard as the latter did the same, the two men chuckling as Serana just looked. "It has been too long, the Archmage of the College of Winterhold might as well drop in regularly! Your arcane abilities have developed in force, I presume?" Neloren asked, the Dragonborn nodding and grinning.
"Of course, I've studied some Illusion spells that I'm certain you wouldn't know of, however I am here on much more pressing matters...but take solace in knowing that at my soonest convenience I will return for an amplified visit!" Damos and Drevis patted each others' shoulders before the Dragonborn and vampire continued toward the Arcanaeum.
"Incarnation of Vivec?!" Serana repeated.
"Drevis Neloren is a sublime instructor! At the time I first came to the College, he showed me all about the school of Illusion. He additionally showed me the marvels of verse. Being an Archmage of the College of Winterhold isn't exceptionally entitling when you are a far preferable writer over mage. Along these lines, Drevis considered it fitting to call me the "Incarnation of Vivec," with Vivec being the Warrior-Poet divinity of the Dunmer." Chuckling, the Redguard might turn, leaving Serana further confounded.
They soon moved into the great library called The Arcanaeum, an aged room that had furnished the support for numerous mages, wizards, and or sages that had passed within the College's lobbies. Guarding the everlasting wellspring of learning dependably was the Orc reputed to be Urag gro-Shub. "Assuming that who I see really is the Archmage, haven't you demonstrated that you've perused each and every content in this library?!" Rising from his seat, the Orc mage might grin warmly to both of them, his under bite distending out in the direction of them.
"Urag! A minute of your time...do you know where I may discover a Moth Priest?" Damos asked, a grin upon his lips. Serana kept her personality and decision of mortality a mystery as she waited silently.
"A Moth Priest! What in Oblivion do you aim to do with a Moth Priest?!" The Orc questioned, his head inclining to the side as he folded his arms.
"My business is particular, just let me know what I asked!" Grumbling, the old mage might shake his head, coming back to his work table and flipping through a modest book, the emulating demonstrations his technique for helping himself to remember things long ago studied.
"Fine fine, no need to get your breeches in a twist. The obvious answer would be to journey to the Imperial City, where the Moth Priests make their home in the White Gold Tower. Sometimes, they go out looking for Elder Scrolls, and it just so happens to be that one is doing so right now, and in this very province."
"Can you tell us where to go?" The Redguard asked, the old Orc fumbling through the book once again.
"Dragon Bridge. After he stopped here to do some research, the Moth Priest headed right toward Dragon Bridge, if you hurry you can still catch him!"
Thanking Urag, Damos might turn to Serana, the Nord female grinning under her hood as the two of them left the Arcanaeum, and the College all as one, running across the once great bridge, then through the remains of the once awesome city of Winterhold.
"How do you want us to get to Dragon Bridge so swiftly?!" Serana yelled to him, the considerable tempest tearing at her pale skin. Assuming that the storm of snow was influencing her, she realized that it might kill him inside a hour. "Damos!"
A boisterous scream welcomed her ears, and the neighing of some darken creature sounded from the white out made by the storm. The female vampire halted mid stride, looking from left to right in dread of what creature stalked them in the snow. "Damos!" Hearing the crashing of hooves thumping upon stone, the lady might turn to see the red hot eyes of the creature gaze into her particular orange spheres. Before she might draw her blade, the animal might progress, jogging past her as a hand ejected from the thick void before her, tightening around her wrist and pulling her with it. Battling opposite the unseen adversary, Serana might stop all as one once she caught a voice.
"Be silent! Shadowmere is very spooked by this storm, I don't need him to hurl us off and keep us in it longer than we need to!" The Redguard snarled sternly as he kept the stallion's pace at a speedy run.
"You were unable to take a moment to let me know that you had a horse?! And that you were taking a temporary detour to retrieve him?!" The Nord female hissed back at him. Cackling, the Dragonborn might kick the dark hide of his steed, driving them quicker in the direction of Dragon Bridge.
…
The excursion to Dragon Bridge was quick as a result of Shadowmere, and the two companions arrived about as the sunset was transforming into night. With no daylight, Serana was unhindered to remove her hood and disclose her eyes as she asked. "Is it always like this?" The lady whispered into his ear as the stallion went to a moderate jog as they moved down the long way that sliced by way through the village.
"Dragon Bridge is typically calm, but this is ridiculous..." He replied, Shadowmere coming to a stop at the beginning of the long scaffold from where the town got its name. "Maybe if we cross..." The sound of something slicing by way of the air filled both their ears, the Redguard tumbling from the steed, the latter responding by raising up and throwing Serana off as well, the vampire female slithering to her fallen friend. Damos yelled in agony, an ebony shaft that now jabbed out of his midsection, had scarcely missed his heart.
"Are you okay?!" Serana cried, moving closer to him as her eyes looked back and forth between the Redguard's face, contorted in pain, and his wound which leaked blood profusely.
"I'll be fine! Just let me get my hands on the bastard who shot this arrow! Damn!" The final word was consequence of him harshly pulling the arrow from his chest by its shaft. Licking the arrowhead, Serana may drone at the taste.
"No poison, that's fortunate. On the other hand, I don't know Restoration magic, so I can't shut the wound for you!" Watching him, the female vampire might be shocked to see the Dragonborn rise furiously to his feet before wrestling his war axes from their sheaths. Cackling suddenly met their ears, two blood suckers appearing suddenly as their invisibility spells cut off.
"Did we strike a nerve?!"
The Redguard snarled, Serana heading up behind him with her dagger drawn. "Where is the Moth Priest?! It's clear that you've caught him, yet take caution in what you state next, my companion here isn't extremely patient when he is angered!"
Giggling between themselves, the more striking of the two might step forward, a black bow to match the loosed arrow secured on his back. "Regardless of the possibility that I was unnerved of your "associate," what might it look like for me to disclose qualified information to a traitorous pure-blood?!" Baring their teeth, the vampires might draw their weapons.
"You should have just answer the question..." Damos trailed off, seeing that the one who had spoken now drew an arrow back. He discharged the shot to the Redguard at the end of the day with destructive correctness. "Wuld!" One word of the Whirlwind Sprint should would suffice, getting the Dragonborn within melee range soon after the arrow had passed a large part of the separation. With the force of his movement, the Dragonborn might perform a thundering lariat on the archer. Stunned at the Redguard's speed, the second vampire was abate to respond as he gazed in amazement. Acknowledging what had happened, he raised his sword to counter, swinging it in the direction of Damos' head, just to have his razor sharp edge deflected by that one of Serana's elven dagger. "Annoying bitch!" He hissed, his comrade finally recovering then before he was set upon by the Redguard once again.
"Slaughter her!" The bowman yelled, blocking quick assaults from the Dragonborn's war axes. Every slice opposite the considerable dark metal of the vampire's dark bow covered the ground in shining sparks. Hooking each limb of the ranged weapon behind either blade of his axes, the Redguard would easily break the bow in half before he may breathe enormously. "Iiz Slen Nus!" Without warning the bowman was encased in ice, his whole figure covered in ice admitting that it was additionally solidified robust from within excessively, murdering the vampire instantly.
Recognizing his friend had fallen, the second vampire panicked, his defenses tripping up which prompted his death as well. Burying her dagger in his shoulder and twisting curving the razor sharp edge to make him drop his sword, Serana would place a palm to his chest as she released an ice spike point-blank into midsection.
Falling his his knees, the blood-sucker might choke as blood pooled in his mouth, the irony of him gagging from the very substance that kept him alive for so long weighing in on him as no one attempted to help him. Grabbing the dying man by the collar of his armor, Damos would interrogate. "Commit at least one good deep and tell us where you're keeping the Moth Priest!"
Fear was bountiful in the vampire's burning orange eyes as he finally broke words. "In...Forebear's Hideout...we took him...to...Forebear's Hideout..." And with that, the vampire gave one last lurch before bowing over in death. "May Azura have mercy on you..." Fumbling with the crystal necklace around his neck, the Redguard would sigh, looking toward Serana.
"I would like to bury this one, then we'll head to Forebear's Hideout!"
…
Since it was very close, the trip to the hole didn't need the utilization of Shadowmere. "Quiet, we don't know how many they have on us..." Serana chided the Dragonborn as she wrapped up his wound, the aftermath of the quick stitch work she had done which had been followed by bathing it in wine, the alcohol killing off anything harmful. With a stretch the Redguard would handle his enhanced crossbow that usually hung on the saddle of his steed.
"You didn't think I was going to run in kicking and screaming, did you?" Chuckling, the two shared a laugh before the Dragonborn leaded the way into the large cavern. Drawing a steel bolt, Damos would spot a death hound as they made their way out of a natural hallway, releasing the bolt as he fired his crossbow. Killing the creature, the pair would take its position before they might cross a small yet raging stream by way of a particularly weathered stone bridge. Presently they moved opposite the external divider of a minor underground fort. Flaring her nostrils, Serana might indicate up. "One on top..."
Moving along the imposing divider, the Redguard and Nord would tediously examine the corner of the obstruction, past the hefty campfire that thundered in the core of the territory onto the solitary figure of an additional guard on the opposite balcony. Charging two spells in either hand, the Dragonborn's structure would speedily vanish before Serana. "Stay put, when the coast is clear...follow." Silent Steps and Shadow's Embrace shielded Damos' whereabouts from the even the female vampire as he made his way past the flames of the bonfire and eventually up a winding staircase.
A short Breton vampire anxiously stood guard, his pale skin generally gleaming in the faint light of the cavern. From her place, Serana might look as some obscure power wrapped around the vampire's neck, snapping it like a twig as the cadaver tumbled to the ground. His shape returning, the Redguard might draw his crossbow, a bolt discharging itself from the ranged weapon and killing the thrall that was neglectful of his activities. Running up, the two associates might get together, smirking between themselves before they would move into the last territory of Forebear's Hideout.
"Great work..." Serana admitted, astounded with the Redguard's arcane capabilities, his Illusion magic might match her particular skill.
"We can salute one another later, wouldn't it be great if we could just get the Moth Priest and get out of here..." Trailing off, the Dragonborn sluggishly lead the route through the little passageway until they happened upon an additional open area of the hideout.
Before them was a spiraling boundary of power, with some figure, whose visualization was distorted by the curving magical force that encompassed it, stooping on level ground. "A weystone barrier..." The Redguard spoke to himself, yet high enough for the female Nord to grasp his words.
"You've clearly had a previous encounter with one?"
"Unfortunately, yes, but this means that we need to discover the focus, or we'll never get through it!" Drawing his war axes, the male would sneak forward, his companion following close behind with her elven dagger drawn and the Ice Spike spell ready to fire.
Half way to the obstruction, the two were without warning struck by an unseen spell, the Redguard taking a large portion of the harm to ensure the female wasn't hurt. Moaning from the agony of this jar of power coursing through their figures, both Serana and Damos wouldn't acknowledge as the leader of the assembly of vampires, an Orc named Malkus, strolled up with two female vampires on either side of him, one an Altmer, the other a Dunmer.
"The audacity! So this is what the Dawnguard sent to recover the Moth Priest, a Redguard that debased Lord Harkon, and his traitorous little girl?!" Laughing, the Orc might charge a different lightning spell before flexing his hands to the Redguard, his magicka transforming into crude power as the Destruction spell struck him again.
"Damos!" Serana whimpered, looking as the Dragonborn twisted in distress as his figure soon attempted to evade the spell as wisps of smoke floated into the air. Stopping his offense, Malkus might start to chortle. His blasting voice resounding around them as the Redguard lay still. Screaming in fury, the female Nord might spring at the Orc, the latter getting her wrist and hurling her effortlessly to the side.
"Irritating Bitch! Once I've executed your small companion here, its back to Castle Volkihar! Lord Harkon would be satisfied to have his adoring little girl come back to him, don't you suppose?!" While dissipating his spell, the vampire might flex his digits to ready the serrated talons he possessed to aid in feasting on the Redguard's still form. Drawing her little blade, Serana pressed on to revolt, the elven steel of her weapon shrieking through the air as she sliced with wild bends. Having enough, the head vampire would effortlessly snap the little blade into pieces. Choking her, his nails would dig into the flesh of her esophagus until he threw her easily away from him and without defense. As he drew the steel war ax from his belt, the sharp head of the weapon pointed to Damos' unconscious form.
"You've forced my hand! Now he dies!" Before the sharp head of the ax could descend however, a strong hold might tighten around the Orc's lower arm. "What...?! You shouldn't even have the strength to walk!" Exclaiming, Malkus might tremble in alarm at the sight of Damos, the latter utilizing a reserve of stamina to hurl the Orc away as though he were a twig. Both of the elven vampires were shocked as they viewed their master tossed so briskly. Before them, the Redguard might stoop over in agony. Serana might creep to him, looking him over in stress. "What's wrong...?"
"Run Serana!" His form moved and contorted as he thundered in torment, his sleeveless variant of the standard Dawnguard armor tearing as his shape shook in some unfamiliar conversion. Every passing minute appeared to be a bad dream to Serana as she viewed her closest companion shift into some gigantic pitch black creature.
Turning its head to view her, the Nord might get a look at its eyes, the shade of the freshest blood that shined unnaturally opposite the perfect dark layer. Wincing, the beast might thunder, turning around as it tuned in on Malkus. Thundering, the gigantic creature would move with a blast of velocity. Sidestepping all spells that were flung at it, the monster might jump up from its four pawed stride, cutting cleanly through the High Elf, only inches from the Orc's structure. As it began to feast on her corpse, the dim animal might develop in force and size, altogether disregarding the other two's strike. Finally taking notice, the beast would dart away once again, its movements impossible to follow.
Grabbing the Dunmer, Malkus might look as the Dark Elf's head was devoured, the whole form soon after. "Please! I don't want to be killed!"
Holding back for a minute, the huge animal might develop even greater size, its energy and strength discharging all immediately as the nightmarish monster might batter him with huge swipes of its dangerously razor sharp claws. Serana wouldn't be able to control her inhaling, groveling as the animal turned to her.
"No! Damos, its me! Think about what you're doing, and don't let that thing control you!" Her eye shut, for alarm of her untimely death. She was able to feel its hot breath on her neck, yet the monster's body hesitated as it stood transfixed over her.
Opening her blazing orange eyes, the Nord vampire might gaze up into its own. "Damos...?" As she reached at up to touch its features, the mammoth beast moved back, roaring at her to take alert before it moved away, running on all fours into the dimness. Serana called after him, however her yells fell on non-present ears.
"Damn it!" Cursing to herself, the female would move to the still form of Malkus. While she searched through the Orc's belongings, she would occasionally look over her shoulder, worrying that Damos in that beast form would return to kill her after all. "Finally!"She exclaimed, the small weystone focus glowing faintly. Moving up onto the balcony, the vampire would watch as the spiraling cage dissipated once the focus was replaced. Leaping down, she would steady the Imperial as he breathed heavily.
"You're safe now, we're with the Dawnguard..." Trailing off, the female would attempt to continue, but she found her words were stuck in her throat. Lowering her head, Serana's eyes would blur as she felt the searing pain of the Moth Priest's Akaviri sword impaling her through her midsection.
"My master has been slain, but I shall avenge him with the blood of his enemies!" The Imperial's eyes were glazed over and blank of emotion, the effect of his enthrallment. Even after Malkus' death, the Moth Priest was still a loyal thrall, pulling his blade from Serana's form before he might swing it once, cutting diagonally across the vampire's chest. Rising to his feet, the Imperial was silent as he watched her fall backward.
"Die now..." A fireball started to thunder between the Moth Priest's fingers. As Serana thought all was lost, she might toss her head back to view the dimness of the top of the cave, just to lock her gaze on two gleaming red dots. Thundering all through Forebear's Hideout, a roar might case the Moth Priest to look around, just for him to be pounced upon from above by the immense animal. Gauging out pieces of the brute's midsection as the animal did the same to his particular structure, the Imperial might throw fireball after fireball, missing every time.
Light overflowed the obscurity of the cave from the blasting fireballs. "Be still!" The Moth Priest shouted, feeling that his magicka was running flat. Crawling slowly by now, Serana might lean against a rock as she viewed the pitch dark animal at long last strike again, its claws screeching opposite the steel of the Priest's Akaviri sword's sharpened blade. Thumping him away, the brute might snarl lowly, circling around the foe as the Moth Priest charged a final fireball spell as the animal charged him. Content with the brute's expectations of executing him, the Imperial might turn in one fluid movement, discharging his last spell at Serana before he was tackled by the monstrous creature. All was silent for a brief second, but after several minutes, the Moth Priest did stand.
"What have I done..." The Imperial wailed, looking around in dread, his enthrallment had been stifled from the trauma that the nightmarish animal had delivered. Before him lay the still form of a Redguard, his body barren of even the slightest article of clothing, his chest pierced by the hefty blade of the Moth Priest's blade. Opposite of him was a pale skinned Nord female.
Her condition was much worse than his. The female's clothes were singed, and a fine layer of sot covered her skin. From two wounds, it was apparent that she had bled profusely, although they no longer did so. "Oh my! May the Gods have mercy!"
Reaching for his sword, the Imperial was frightened when the Redguard's hand tightened around his own did the same around the hilt of his blade.
"Are you the Moth Priest?!" Damos spoke at last, his eyes came back to their warm shade of golden. Nodding the other may encourage the Dragonborn to his feet. Pulling the sword from his midsection, the Redguard's eyes would eventually fall on Serana's still form. "Serana!" Rushing to her side, the male would totally disregard the ache of his wounds, even as they vanished all as one, the Moth Priest examined. Utilizing the broken shard of her elven dagger to make a humble cut beneath his wrist, he might move it near her mouth. Speedily her sharp teeth might sink further into his tissue, absorbing his life force as her wounds started to mend also.
Before too long, her eyes opened, their burning tints dulling somewhat as she encouraged. With her hunger extinguished, Serana would at last break words, since she was well to talk. "Damos..."
"Yes...?"
"You're naked..." Chuckling, the Redguard would lay her down, standing as he allowed her to rest. Turning back to the Moth Priest, he would talk. "Once she is well enough, you can tell us all you know. And don't worry, we're with the Dawnguard!"
…
Hours passed until Serana was awake and well enough to listen in on the Moth Priest along with the Dragonborn, who had adorned a pair of ragged trousers he had scavenged from some unrecognizable corpse that had been used as human cattle. Now they all sat around a small fire. "So...what would you two want of an old man like me?" The Moth Priest, whose name was Dexion Evicus spoke looking at the flames as they danced and feasted upon the dry limbs of a long fallen tree.
"First of all, are you alright?" Damos asked.
"I'm quite alright, thanks to you two, although I am sorry for causing a problem, that wasn't me attacking you two, well not directly. These vampires claimed that they had some purpose in store of me, but they would not say. Probably hoping to ransom me, fools!"
"Actually, we know why they wanted, because it just so happens that we need you for the same purpose." Serana returned.
"You see, we and the Dawnguard need you to read an Elder Scroll..." The Redguard explained, watching the elder's reaction to his statement.
"You have an Elder Scroll?! Remarkable! If my history knowledge serves me right, the Dawnguard were an ancient order of vampire slayers, yet you have one with you now! But beside the point, I will be happy to assist you with your Elder Scroll. Just tell me where to go!"
"Fort Dawnguard. Near Stendarr's Beacon!" Serana answered.
"Very well! I'll hurry on my way there before more vampires turn up." Saluting them, the Moth Priest would take his leave. As the Imperial moved deeper into the cavern to gather traveling supplies, mumbling to himself.
Grinning, the Dragonborn would suddenly look very tired and depressed.
"What's the matter, Damos?" Serana asked, her burning eyes looking over him.
"I am a beast once again, but this time is different. Joy is one of the very few things I don't feel..." Looking at his hands, the Redguard would feel his lycanthropic abilities as he tried to manually trigger a release, but felt them tear at his very humanity. "No longer am I in control of the beast inside of me, since my wolf technically isn't of the Companion's bloodline any long."
Smirking, the other would pat his shoulder before speaking. "You are the Dragonborn, the Archmage of the College of Winterhold, and the Harbinger of the Companions! Not only are you strong enough to learn to control it once again, you're the strongest person I know!
His features were soon plastered with happiness as he rose. "Thanks, but now we have to escort Dexion Evicus to Fort Dawnguard, and I'm not leaving here without proper clothes. So help me look for some." And with that, the two friends would discontinue as they walked side by side deeper into Forebear's Hideout.
So...how long has it been since my last chapter?! Doesn't matter now, cause here it is, the newest chapter of Damos' adventures in Skyrim. But I am sorry for the long period of time, please read and review and forgive me. This won't happen again. New chapter's coming soon, but its not related to Dawnguard so don't look forward to Damos slaying any vampires. If you like the chapter, give me a review, I really enjoy reading them, I love to show my family and friends what nice things you have to say. But anyways, see ya guys later. Ji-Smith, out~!
